Pepper Star of the East F1: growing a crunchy vitamin giant in the garden

Varieties of sweet peppers are replenished from year to year with new breeding achievements. This gives vegetable growers the opportunity to experiment on their site and make a choice in favor of one or another variety or hybrid. Some species quickly leave the market without gaining much popularity, while others take root well, winning love among gardeners. Such hybrids can safely include the Eastern Star pepper. It was bred agro more than 10 years ago and has taken a strong position among admirers of this vegetable crop.

History of the variety

Peppers of the Zvezda Vostoka F1 group were bred by the Russian breeding company SeDeK. This organization was founded in 1995 in the Moscow region and specializes in obtaining new hybrid vegetable crops. In cross section, the peppers look like a star, which is why the line of these hybrids received the appropriate name.

Star of the East F1 - a hybrid variety of domestic selection

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Agro is a fairly well-known breeding and seed company in Russia, operating on the market since 1995.
The main activity of the company is the breeding of varieties and hybrids of vegetable crops. It was this company, geographically located in the Moscow region, that developed the wonderful series of Zvezda Vostoka peppers, which, in addition to the usual red-fruited species, includes others. The line includes peppers Star of the East Orange, White in Yellow, White in Red, White, Giant, Giant Red, Yellow, Golden, Tangerine and even Purple and Chocolate. This variety allows you not just to grow peppers, but to create a spectacular multi-colored bed, which, when the harvest is ripening, will look more interesting than any flower bed. All varieties in this line are hybrid. When cut, the peppers actually resemble a star in shape. Pepper Star of the East: description of the variety • The growing season is 105 – 110 days, the variety is early ripening, some species are mid-ripening. • They are grown both in the open air and in protected ground. • The bush is of medium height, semi-spreading, from 60 to 80 cm in height. • The fruit has a pulp thickness of 0.6 - 0.8 cm. It is red in color (in other varieties of this line the color corresponds to the name), cuboid in shape. When ripe it is creamy white in color. • Peppers weigh on average 150 – 180 g (some types have more), they are juicy and have an excellent taste. • Hybrid yield is 7 – 7.5 kg per square meter. meters. • The variety demonstrates resistance to viral diseases. • Peppers can be harvested at any stage of ripening: they ripen well. They have a universal purpose and can withstand long-term transportation well.

Pepper Star of the East: description of agricultural technology and tips

When buying seeds, you should definitely pay attention to the expiration date on the package; of course, it is better to take fresher ones, since it is not known in what conditions the seeds were stored and whether they were locked inside the package. Such seeds are unlikely to sprout, and even if they do sprout, the seedlings will be frail. It is better to sow seeds for seedlings at the end of February. Before this, it is recommended to soak them in warm water with the addition of potassium permanganate and sow them in warm soil. This is done so that the seeds hatch and germinate faster. Since if you sow dry seeds of these varieties, you can wait more than a month for germination, and sometimes even two. In this case, at the end of May and beginning of June you will have nothing to plant in a permanent place on the site, because the seedlings will still be small. Experienced vegetable growers also recommend not placing pepper seedlings near a radiator or heater and ventilating the room more often so that condensation does not form on the leaves of the seedlings, which can lead to rotting of the tips of the leaves.

The most successful varieties of this series are the orange and yellow Star of the East. Starting from the moment of fruit set, it is recommended to organize the tying of bushes, especially branches bearing fruit, as they can be too thin and break under the weight of growing fruit. Peppers from the Eastern Star series are thick-walled, very juicy and sweet, and have a cuboid shape. Therefore, due to this shape, it is better to freeze them in sliced ​​form, since they take up too much space whole. In addition to fresh consumption, such peppers are suitable for various types of canning, but for stuffing this is not the best option.

Pepper Star of the East: reviews of other varieties of the variety

Varieties with purple and chocolate-colored fruits are unique exotic varieties with dark purple, almost black, or brown-red peppers. These hybrids are mid-season, their growing season is slightly longer - 110 - 115 days. The peppercorns themselves have a glossy surface and grow larger - on average 200 - 250 g, and if sufficient fertilizer is provided, up to 350 g. The thickness of their pulp is also greater - up to 1 cm, than that of an ordinary Eastern Star. The yield of varieties is up to 8 – 10 kg per square meter. meters.

Pepper Star of the East Orange, yellow and golden - varieties of early ripening: 105 - 110 days. The bushes grow up to 80 cm. At the stage of technical ripeness, the peppers are green, and later acquire an orange, yellow or yellow-orange color, respectively. Peppers are thick-walled (0.8 - 1 cm). The value of these varieties is their high content of vitamins and sugar. The average fruit weight is about 180 g.

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Interesting varieties with the intriguing names Belaya in yellow and White in red are early ripening hybrids. The name is given due to the fact that when ripe the peppers are colored creamy white, and already at the stage of biological ripeness they acquire a red or yellow tint. Star of the East Giant and Star of the East Giant Red are hybrids with especially large fruits of medium ripening period (120 - 130 days). The bushes are taller than other varieties of Star of the East - about 90 cm. The peppers ripen large and thick-walled, weighing up to 300 - 400 g. The varieties show a yield of 8 - 8.5 kg per square meter. meters. These two types are practically no different from each other.

Pepper Star of the East: reviews from vegetable growers

This series of peppers is often grown on their plots by many gardeners and speak positively about it. Since these peppers are hybrid, they show a good level of productivity, often corresponding to that declared by the breeder - up to 12 - 15 peppers can be harvested from one bush, but this does not apply to the large-fruited species of the Eastern Star. Resistance to diseases is noted. When planting seedlings in open beds, many gardeners recommend adding manure or humus to the holes and regularly loosening the soil around the bushes.

In regions with cold and short summers, for example, in the Novosibirsk region, these varieties in open ground do not set fruit well and do not have time to ripen even to technical ripeness: there are 1 - 2 peppercorns on one bush. Therefore, in such areas it is better to grow them in protected ground. Almost all summer residents who leave reviews about these varieties agree on the highest taste and juiciness of Zvezda Vostok peppers, for which the majority plant them annually.

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Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Star of the East F1 is a sweet, crunchy pepper with a lot of benefits. Breeders have created an almost ideal variety with only one drawback.

Table: strengths and weaknesses of the variety

Varieties

The traditional hybrid Vostok Star f1 produces dark red peppers. However, at the stage of technical maturity, they are colored milky-cream, which becomes redder as they ripen.

Interesting! One bush can immediately have peppers of three shades: milky, creamy red and dark red. All of them can be eaten and added to various dishes.

Usually, fruits are brought to biological ripening in order to collect seeds for subsequent cultivation. However, this is a hybrid, so there is no point in this, since such seeds do not have varietal characteristics.

All peppers in this series at the stage of technical and biological maturation have a distinctive color.

Purple

Doesn't give a big harvest. From 1 sq. per meter of planting, you can collect 6-7 kg of fruit. However, the peppers ripen early and have an exotic color.

At first they are dark purple, and when they reach biological maturity they acquire a dark cherry color. The wall thickness of the prismatic peppers is 7 mm. On average, one fruit weighs 180-300 g.

Chocolate

• It has an average ripening period.
• Gives a high yield - up to 10 kg per 1 sq. meters of landings
• The peppers are large, weighing about 270-350 g.
• The color of fruits at the stage of biological ripening is burgundy-brown. At technical maturity it is dark green in color.
• Has a peculiar peppery aroma.

Golden

• The fruits ripen at the same time.
• The yield is average - approximately 7.5 kg per 1 sq. meters of landings.
• Peppers weigh on average 175-200 g.
• The pulp is juicy, about 5-7 mm.
• At the stage of technical maturation they are dark green. When fully ripe they are bright yellow.

White

• The fruits are colored milky white only during technical ripening. When fully ripened on the bush, they become dark yellow and resemble a hybrid of White pepper in yellow.
• Productivity per square meter up to 8 kg.
• The thickness of the walls grows to 10 mm.

White in red

• It has cube-shaped fruits.
• At technical maturity they are white in color, gradually turning red as they mature.
• The yield is average, as is the wall thickness and weight of the peppers.

Red

• The fruits are prism-shaped.
• At the technical stage of ripening they have a dark green color.
• Has a faint peppery aroma.

Tangerine

• An unusual variety from this series, which produces up to 9 kg of peppers per 1 sq. meters of landings.
• The fruits are large, weighing on average 250-300 g.
• Peppers are initially dark green, but when fully ripe they become a deep orange hue.
• The pulp is juicy, about 8-10 mm thick.
• Nice peppery aroma.

Yellow

• Yellow and Orange Eastern Star differ in the color of the fruit, which appears at the biological stage of their ripening. Before this they are painted dark green.
• They ripen early.
• Indeterminate type of bush with unlimited growth.
• Up to 20 peppers can ripen on a bush together.
• The weight of each fruit reaches 160-180 grams. Although some specimens can gain weight up to 250 grams.
• Recommended for cultivation in heated greenhouses. Then 1 bush can bear fruit for a long time and will produce about 25 kg of fruit.

Gigantic

There are 3 varieties of the Eastern Star series, which have large fruits (up to 400 g) and an average ripening period:

1. Gigantic.
2. Giant red.
3. Giant yellow.

The first 2 hybrids are very similar, but the last one differs in the color of the fruit.

• The bushes grow up to 100 cm in height.
• The yield is average - up to 10 peppers per bush.

Landing Features

Seeds for seedlings are planted in the second half of February. To obtain healthy and strong seedlings, gardeners carry out preparatory measures. Let's look at the intricacies of planting peppers in more detail.

Planting of all F1 Star of the East hybrids is done the same way

Preparing seeds for seedlings

For sowing, material 1–3 years old is used. To select viable seeds, place them in a container, fill them with saline solution (40 g per 1 liter of warm water) for 10 minutes and mix. You can only use those that sink to the bottom. The remaining seeds are thrown away as unsuitable for sowing. Next, high-quality seeds are washed with running water and placed on a napkin or paper.

Important! Seeds are stored at a temperature of +10...+12 °C, otherwise their germination rate is reduced.

After the seeds have dried, treatment begins. This procedure reduces the likelihood of pepper being damaged by diseases and pests. The planting material is immersed in a solution of potassium permanganate (1 g per 1 liter of water) for 20–25 minutes, after which it is washed and dried again.

Growing seedlings

Those who decide to grow Star of the East pepper of category f1 should choose the right planting material. It is preferable to choose only packages that were released on the market last year. It is believed that this year's seeds are less productive.

Before planting seeds, they should be treated with manganese solution and special growth stimulants. This will destroy all bacteria and microbes and also increase seed germination. The soil for planting is light and loose. A low acid-base balance is also important. It should not exceed 4%, otherwise the land is treated with lime.

Pour 2/3 of the soil into the container and make small rows. The distance between them should be maintained at 5 cm. The seeds are planted at a distance of 2 cm from each other. The planting depth is 1 cm. After this, the containers are covered with plastic wrap and placed in a room with a constant temperature of 25°C. Every day the seeds are ventilated by opening the film for half an hour. They also water with warm water if the soil is dry. As soon as the first pair of leaves appears on the seedlings, they are transplanted to a permanent place.

Further care of the plant

Pepper Star of the East F1 takes root well on the site, but certain care measures cannot be ignored. Therefore, after transplanting, you need to pay attention to watering the seedlings, fertilizing, tying up growing bushes, etc.

Proper watering of bushes

Pepper is a moisture-loving crop and requires regular watering. Do not irrigate peppers only during prolonged rains or downpours. Water the bushes using a watering can, evenly distributing the water under the roots. The work is performed in the morning before sunrise or in the evening. Make sure that the jet does not wash away the soil, exposing the root system.

Pepper is very sensitive to lack of moisture

Table: pepper watering schedule

Fertilizing to increase crop yields

Star of the East F1 will delight you with sweet large fruits with dense pulp, if you provide the required level of fertilizers during crop growth.

To form sweet and large fruits, peppers will need additional feeding.

Table: fertilizing peppers

Hilling and garter

One of the conditions necessary for the full development of pepper is breathable soil . Therefore, in order to prevent the formation of a crust, the soil between the rows is loosened after rains and watering to a depth of 5 cm. When the height of the bush reaches 20 cm, the top is pinched. This accelerates the development of side shoots and, accordingly, will increase the yield.

After this procedure, several upper stems will form on the bush. Of these, the four strongest are left, the rest are cut off. If you do not pinch, then you need to regularly remove the stepsons. To prevent the bushes from breaking or deforming under the weight of the fruit, each plant is tied with twine to a peg, which is installed next to the pepper.

The Star of the East is a tall crop that needs a garter

Important! If the air temperature exceeds +30 °C, a shading screen must be installed over the beds, otherwise the pepper pollen will become unviable.

Advantages and disadvantages

Harvesting

The fruits of Star of the East F1 ripen in 105–130 days, depending on the variety. One bush produces 11–12 peppers. The harvest is harvested when the fruits reach technical maturity, when they acquire the appropriate size and shape, as well as when they are biologically ripe, which is characterized by a certain color.

Peppers are harvested once every 6–7 days, cutting off the stalks, this will extend the storage period . The harvest is stored in baskets, bags or boxes at +8...+10°C and humidity 80–90%.

Peppers of the Zvezda Vostok F1 variety have a sweet taste without bitterness. They can be frozen, dried, canned, used to prepare vegetable caviar, soups, side dishes, or eaten fresh.

Star of the East F1 is a universal variety, suitable for both fresh consumption and baking or canning.

Characteristics

Reviews of pepper Star of the East

If you grew this sweet pepper, please write whether you liked it or not. What was the yield under your climatic conditions? How do you rate the disease resistance of this hybrid? If possible, attach a photo of the entire bush or individual fruits you grew to your comment. Thank you!

Your feedback and additions to the description will help you evaluate this hybrid more objectively and decide whether to plant it or not.

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Varieties of Eastern Star peppers: Tangerine, Giant, White in Red, Red, Yellow, Chocolate

Sweet pepper is not an absolutely accessible crop for growing in most regions of Russia due to its heat-loving nature and at the same time long growing season. But what to do if many varieties, even with large sizes, do not yet have the most expressive taste, and even sometimes taste bitter? Probably try to choose a variety of bell pepper that will combine many useful characteristics, but, above all, excellent taste.

Eastern Star pepper is unique not only for its taste characteristics, but also because it is a whole series of peppers of the most diverse shades. Despite some differences in size, shape and, most importantly, color shades, all varieties of East Star peppers are distinguished by an excellent sweet taste and juiciness, which are comparable to the best southern varieties, and which are confirmed by numerous reviews from gardeners. Of course, it is unlikely that it will be possible to grow a decent harvest of these peppers in the open ground of regions with cool and short summers. But, if you have any greenhouse or greenhouse, then you can surprise your family and guests with a rare combination of beauty, taste, juiciness and, of course, usefulness that distinguishes all vegetables grown on your own plot. Well, in the south, your pepper beds will have the opportunity to sparkle with a real fireworks of colors and, with reasonable planting, can look even more picturesque than any flower bed. And your twists for the winter will not only be healthy and tasty, but also beautiful.

Diseases and pests

Under favorable conditions, Zvezda Vostok F1 peppers demonstrate good disease resistance, but if agricultural practices are violated, dangerous diseases can develop.

Table: diseases affecting peppers

Table: pests attacking crops

Care measures

The main tasks of a vegetable grower are watering and feeding peppers. Water is added irregularly, but always heated. During the entire growing season, 2 or 3 fertilizer applications are carried out:

1. Potassium-phosphorus or nitrogen fertilizing. For 12 liters of water you will need 1 liter of manure. Organic matter is diluted to a liquid state and the crop is fertilized at the bud stage. This feeding is done twice.
2. Double superphosphate. Fertilizer is prepared from 2 tbsp. l. double superphosphate mixed with 1 tbsp. wood ash. The components need to be filled with water and left for about 2 days.

Tall bushes must be tied up so that the weight of the fruit does not damage or break them. Harvesting is carried out at the stage of technological ripeness. The fruits can be placed in boxes and then transferred to a cool room where they will ripen completely.